Wonderful. Resonates like a clanging bell in a dusty old country chapel. Clang. Get to work. Clang. It’s shite. Clang. No it isn’t (who cares anyway it’s just for you). Clang. Hmm maybe there’s something here. Clang. Here’s to the clangers
Thank you for this, Helen. Like the magazine at the end of your piece, this writing came at a perfect time for me. I was literally just bemoaning the huge backlog of unread Substacks, convinced I could do nothing about them because I’m caught in the exact dilemma you describe. And yes, absolutely, the answer is ‘and’. Jung taught me the importance of holding the tension of the opposites long enough for a third way to emerge. You’ve reminded me. Many thanks.
“Calling it like it is and leaving breadcrumbs for others coming along…” Both boxes checked for this old gal dreaming big in her faded jeans. Thank you!
Hi Helen - I just love this post. Honest, encouraging and inspirational! I suspect anything worth creating is hard to do. I know I am on the right track when my brain hurts! But it is hard to find the time to get to that point. Must try harder to make my brain hurt!
oh man can I identify with this! I once said to the Buddhist nun I practiced with many years ago that it seemed even more interesting and worthwhile to keep at something that you have a sense you're not good at. Like you writing seems easy, but I keep painting with intermittent success. thanks for this. I have stopped watching those videos :)
I know this strange feeling of having nothing to say. I think it comes with approaching elderhood. When I was young(er) I felt so passionate about things that I now have no particular opinion on. I guess it's a case of shifting from horizontal to vertical, depths rather than width. Hence I find it easier to write poetry than prose. I love buying art supplies, but need to carve out time to actually paint. Perhaps it's a case of recapturing our child-like innocence and not worrying about purpose or perfection.
Thank you, thank you! Those beautiful videos you speak about...not my experience of creative work either. Sometimes, like Mary Oliver, I come away from creative encounters and work "stained with light," and sometimes I just feel tired and mediocre. Your words are such comfort.
Wow, this was like looking inside my own head! , I love how the words we need to hear appear at the right time, thank you Helen. Time for me to dust off the biscuit crumbs and swap the dressing gown for some clothes.
Wonderful. Resonates like a clanging bell in a dusty old country chapel. Clang. Get to work. Clang. It’s shite. Clang. No it isn’t (who cares anyway it’s just for you). Clang. Hmm maybe there’s something here. Clang. Here’s to the clangers
https://fb.watch/rybzOdOCQQ/? Oh! The Clangers! Another 70s classic!!
Thank you for this, Helen. Like the magazine at the end of your piece, this writing came at a perfect time for me. I was literally just bemoaning the huge backlog of unread Substacks, convinced I could do nothing about them because I’m caught in the exact dilemma you describe. And yes, absolutely, the answer is ‘and’. Jung taught me the importance of holding the tension of the opposites long enough for a third way to emerge. You’ve reminded me. Many thanks.
“Calling it like it is and leaving breadcrumbs for others coming along…” Both boxes checked for this old gal dreaming big in her faded jeans. Thank you!
Hi Helen - I just love this post. Honest, encouraging and inspirational! I suspect anything worth creating is hard to do. I know I am on the right track when my brain hurts! But it is hard to find the time to get to that point. Must try harder to make my brain hurt!
Seems I met my intentions then! Thanks for the affirmation.
oh man can I identify with this! I once said to the Buddhist nun I practiced with many years ago that it seemed even more interesting and worthwhile to keep at something that you have a sense you're not good at. Like you writing seems easy, but I keep painting with intermittent success. thanks for this. I have stopped watching those videos :)
I know this strange feeling of having nothing to say. I think it comes with approaching elderhood. When I was young(er) I felt so passionate about things that I now have no particular opinion on. I guess it's a case of shifting from horizontal to vertical, depths rather than width. Hence I find it easier to write poetry than prose. I love buying art supplies, but need to carve out time to actually paint. Perhaps it's a case of recapturing our child-like innocence and not worrying about purpose or perfection.
Thank you, thank you! Those beautiful videos you speak about...not my experience of creative work either. Sometimes, like Mary Oliver, I come away from creative encounters and work "stained with light," and sometimes I just feel tired and mediocre. Your words are such comfort.
Wow, this was like looking inside my own head! , I love how the words we need to hear appear at the right time, thank you Helen. Time for me to dust off the biscuit crumbs and swap the dressing gown for some clothes.